Tag Archives: ESL

Thanks to the generosity of the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Literacy tutors and students at the Bristol Public Library will have more resources at their disposal. The library is pleased to be one of the 167 recipients of the 2012 Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation grants. The Foundation funds many programs in Thomaston and surrounding communities that seek to better the lives of the people in their communities.

The grant, which totaled just over $1600, has allowed the library to start a core collection of materials that teachers, tutors and students can use in their lessons. The collection is located on the second floor near the Career Center. A list of materials is available at the library.

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” — Frank Smith

Have you been wanting to learn a new language, or perhaps want to brush up on a language you haven’t used in a while, but thought you didn’t have the time or money for classes? We can help with that! We now offer the online language learning tool, Transparent Language Online from Recorded Books, which is freely accessible anywhere with an Internet connection and your valid library card number.

From Albanian to Zulu, and dozens in between, you can choose the language you are interested in and begin cruising through lessons right away! Native speakers of Spanish, Polish, Chinese, and many other languages can also access English language learning modules.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5NYqYgl6Kw]

To access Transparent Language Online, visit our website, bristollib.com and select the icon shown above. You will need to sign in to Transparent Language Online with your 14-digit library card number and then create a username and password of your own.

Want to learn while you travel or commute? Byki Mobile allows you to take Transparent Language Online learning “on the go” with your Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Android powered device. There is no charge. All you need is Byki for iPhone or Android, which are free in the App Store and Google Play.

When you log in to the site and create your personalized username and password, you can choose to “Go Mobile” and follow the three steps shown to download and run the app.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at 860-584-7787 x2017 with your questions. We’re very excited to offer Transparent Language to our patrons and want you to have the best experience possible with it. We will be offering walk-in help sessions on:

Bristol Public Library and Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut have partnered to help provide much-needed literacy instruction to Bristol area residents. Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut provides small group and one-on-one tutoring for individuals from other countries who want to learn English and to native speakers who need help with reading. The hours are flexible and learning is student-centered.

Literacy Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life and no experience or foreign languages are necessary to become a tutor. Training sessions prepare you to be a Literacy Volunteer Adult Tutor. Once you are trained, you tutor for just 2 hours a week.

If you would like to make a difference in someone’s life, please consider signing up for a tutor training session. The Literacy Volunteers of Central CT March ESOL Tutor Training:

AM training is held at the United Way of West Central CT in Bristol on March 13, 16, 20, 23 (10AM-12:30PM)

PM training is held at ARC of Southington on March 12, 15, 19, 22 (6-8:30PM)